president obama said he would have preferred a grand bargain that solved all of washington's revenue and spending problems. >> with this congress that was obviously a little too much to hope for at this time. it may be -- and maybe we can do it in stages. >> negotiations have been going on all day. lawmakers and aides moving back and forth between meeting rooms here on capitol hill on what is normally a quiet new year's eve. the major sticking point now is spending. the president suggested lawmakers take action on deficit reduction in the next few months and that more tax revenue could be involved in those discussions, but republicans are furious at that possibility. >> i'm willing to support revenues to deal with this problem. the overall problem. but what i will not agree to is using revenues to replace spending reductions. >> reporter: even if the senate approves the deal by midnight, the house still has to pass the measure before the president can sign it into law. randall pinkston, cbs news, washington. >> that process could take a couple of days but lawmakers say it could be ma